Geauga County Commissioners Approve Library Building Purchase for Senior Center Despite Cost Concerns
CHARDON— Geauga County commissioners voted Tuesday to purchase the county library's administrative building for $3.2 million to house a new permanent senior center, advancing a long-delayed project amid questions about the price, taxpayer costs and timing.
The 2-1 vote on resolution 26-066 authorizes the purchase of the property at 12701 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon and a lease-back agreement allowing the library to remain until June 2027. Department on Aging Director Jessica Boalt described the move as the culmination of more than a decade of efforts to replace inadequate facilities for the county’s growing senior population, which now exceeds 30% of residents.
Boalt and Library Director Chris Carroll outlined benefits including better accessibility, parking, space for meals, wellness programs and social services. The purchase also fits into a broader county facilities strategy to reduce its footprint by vacating the aging 470 Center Street building, where the senior center currently operates temporarily.
Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri supported the deal, citing years of challenges finding suitable space for the Chardon senior center and the building’s strategic location near the hospital and veteran services. He noted an architect’s estimate that replicating the facility today would cost around $9.3 million. Commissioner Jim Dvorak also voted yes.
Commissioner Carolyn Brakey cast the lone no vote, citing the $3.2 million price — roughly 75-80% above a $1.8 million appraisal — and concerns about adding to the county’s property portfolio at a time when residents face high property taxes.
“Taxpayers are telling us they don’t want us spending money right now,” Brakey said. She supported eventually divesting 470 Center Street but questioned the timing.
Public comment reflected similar divisions. One resident called it cited concerns over “double paying” for the library purchase originally funded by taxpayers. Others pressed for more public discussion on using public dollars for the project.
A separate controversy erupted over a $1,777 expenditure by the auditor’s office for candy and dog treats distributed at the Maple Festival. Commissioner Spidalieri, who said he missed the item last week, raised it during financial approvals and expressed regret for not catching it earlier. He questioned using taxpayer funds for such items, especially by elected officials.
Multiple residents echoed the concern in public comment, describing it as hypocritical given scrutiny of other spending and the timing near elections. One noted over $4,000 spent on candy countywide since 2020. Commissioners discussed past practices where officials sometimes funded parade candy personally and agreed to review community outreach and marketing budgets during upcoming hearings. No action was taken to claw back the already-paid amount.
Commissioners approved several infrastructure items with little debate. These included asphalt resurfacing contracts for sections of Bass Lake Road (County Highway 23) and bidding for Bascom Road bridge replacement. They also greenlit a change order for the Safety Center parking lot project netting about $565 after credits, and advertising for Opera House masonry repairs and restoration.
In other business, the county airport authority secured approval, pending prosecutor review, for an Ohio Department of Transportation grant covering the local match on a T-hangar project funded partly through federal infrastructure money. Dog Warden Matt Granito received permission to close the facility to the public on Mondays to focus on law enforcement duties and training while remaining open for adoptions and other services. Water Resources secured a one-year forklift maintenance contract, a waiver for late fees on gas bills, and approvals for job postings and credit card authorizations.
Public participation featured continued questions on the senior center and candy spending. Debate arose over the board’s public comment policy limiting speakers to one appearance per session. Commissioners temporarily suspended the rule for one additional speaker and discussed potential revisions for greater flexibility.
Public comment also featured pointed criticism regarding the auditor’s office. Former Commissioner Walter Claypool, now a resident, raised concerns about both the $1,777 candy and dog treat expenditure for the Maple Festival and a separate issue involving Auditor Frank Antenucci.
Claypool referenced a letter dropped in his mailbox over the weekend alleging that Antenucci used his official title on a personal Facebook page while campaigning. He argued that the large candy purchase — coming during an active election period and paired with a prominently displayed auditor’s vehicle in the parade — created the appearance of impropriety and the use of taxpayer dollars for self-promotion.
“I would like to ask that the commissioner’s office do an investigation,” Claypool said. “Reach out to the board of ethics, the ethics commission in the state of Ohio to see if in fact this does cross a line. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t, but it at least creates the appearance and that’s a problem in and of itself.”
Commissioners responded by acknowledging the concerns, but took no official action during the meeting. Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri said the candy expenditure “rubbed a lot of people the wrong way” and expressed regret for missing it during last week’s financial approvals. He noted that past commissioners had personally funded parade candy rather than using taxpayer money.
Regarding the Facebook issue, commissioners pointed out that Antenucci is an independently elected official, not a county employee under their direct authority. One commissioner noted that public officials have First Amendment rights on personal social media accounts, but expressed concern if any campaigning occurred on county time. They suggested any formal review of the auditor’s conduct would likely fall under the Auditor’s office or the county Board of Elections rather than the commissioners.
